Showing posts with label Mona Lisa Smile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mona Lisa Smile. Show all posts

Monday, December 12, 2011

Abstract...With Feeling...For Me And Mona Lisa!

         This photograph is entitled Rainy Days and Mondays. It would be the perfect image for today...'if' it was raining like it usually is around here on a Monday! ^_^ But, according to the weather person, it's gonna be dry and clear and in the middle 40s (Fahrenheit), and we're not even gonna get a rain shower until Thursday!...In Massachusetts?...in December?!...Shocking! ^_^
       We are gonna get a little wind...
        Okay....Okay! Let me confess. I've been conducting a little experiment with you. :-) ...I'll tell you about it, but first let me ask you...did you pop over here to my blog because you saw the abstract colors in the rain photo scroll across your 'Friend Connect'?!...And did you get a certain feeling while you were looking at the first or second semi-abstract images above?!
      I'm asking because I watched this movie over the weekend, with Julia Roberts in it, called Mona Lisa Smile.
             It was about a woman who came to teach in a woman's private liberal arts college, Wellesley,...here in Massachusetts,...but the movie was set back in 1953. She came  to teach a course on the 'History of Art'. The theme of the movie was more about the culture toward women at the time. But I was immediately struck by the art course she was teaching!
          The movie talked about art, and why one thing is called 'art' while something similar is not called 'art'! It was fascinating. And I learned a lot!...And it got me to thinking about why certain art pieces make me feel the way I do about them...Wanna know what I learned?!
      I learned that I 'still' don't know why certain art pieces make me feel the way I do about them?!! ^_^ ...It's funny though, I know exactly what I like! I can tell you how it makes me feel...but I don't know why it does! Does that happen to you?!
      Some art is self explainable. At least I think it is!...Like for instance, look at this...
      This artist paints custom portraits of individuals...or pets...from a photograph that they send in!...That's what I call an art! Not only the finished product, but even the ability to look at a person, or pet, and be able to paint them, is artistic!...In the above image you can see that there's an abstract silhouette of the person behind them too...sorta like them looking at themselves in a mirror over their shoulder...WOW! Talk about art!
      But some art is not so defined and precise. Some art is just 'emotion-evoking', but in ways that only the person looking at it can explain...To let you know what I mean, I conducted my own experiment. 
       I went over to Etsy, typed "Blue Monday Art" or "Abstract Monday Art" in the search bar, and just scrolled down...without looking at any of the names of the art pieces...and down-loaded the images that evoked some sort of immediate reaction for me. Here's what I came up with...
        This one made me feel like I usually do on Mondays...like it's been a good weekend, but now I've got to come out of my weekend bubble...back into the blue Monday routine. But hey! it's gonna be good! :-)

       This one made me feel like I do on blue Mondays in the Springtime. Calm...enjoying my backyard...maybe slightly rainy...but not bothered, and not much on my schedule that's pressing to do. :-)

         This one feels like one of those Mondays where the weekend came and went too fast, and I didn't get done as much as I needed to!...With chores in front of me though...it still feels like it was gonna be a good day! :-)

       If you know anything about Poetesswug (me!) at all...this picture is self explanatory. It's flowers!...and it's the best Monday ever!! :-) Can't you see the happiness?! ^_^

        I don't know why, but this picture makes me smile and feel all warm and gooey inside. :-) Maybe it's because it's so colorful...or maybe it's because it looks like warm honey and I haven't had my breakfast yet! LOL But whatever the reason, it doesn't feel like a Monday at all...It feels like a Thursday photo. A Thursday that's anticipating a Friday! LOL

         This one made me wanna take a deep breath, sit back, and just look at it...for hours! :-) I think it's so calming. If I had this one on my bedroom wall I might not get anything done...ever! :-) I think this would be perfect for doctors and dentists to put in their office waiting rooms, don't you?!

        
         Hey! Wait.....
    
        ... ^_^ How did that get in there?!...

           ...That's not abstract art!! LOL...

          And then again......! :-] It is to me!! (This is the new scarf I'm working on right now I made it with the colors of the latest fingerless gloves. I'm gonna list them in the shop tomorrow.)

         This is how I'm feeling today...Yes, it's a blue Monday, but I'm so not feeling 'Monday'....I'm feeling 'Happy'!! Can't you see me in the picture, with my arms out-stretched ready to give everybody a hug?! My whole head is one BIG...yep! I'm officially a big head! LOL...happy flower!
     And while the blue of Monday is trying to take a hold of me, I'm holding it off with some backyard 'calming' green! :-) And yes...there's gonna be all kinds of movement in the house today....fingers and brain cells will be flying!! :-) ...I'm feeling so good today that I think I could make 'Mona Lisa smile'! :-)
      So, did any of these images evoke emotions in you?!...Are you smiling, upset, sad, giddy?!...Blame it on art! And art teachers! :-) ...And to all teachers, whether you're teaching art or math or life...THANK YOU!!!...And to all of you blog followers, don't forget to enter the headband Giveaway...and have a good Monday!!!......Make it abstract and wonderful! :-)

About My Teachers

Let me tell you about my teachers!
Those who let my spirit fly.
Those who taught me self-control.
Those who always made me try.

My music teacher, small in size,
whose unsung words would sometimes sting;
He taught humility and patience,
while also teaching me to sing.

My English teacher, gregarious,
whose toothy smile was just as loud;
She taught me confidence and joy,
and to be fearless in a crowd.

My drama teacher, A or E,
from her I earned my hardest grade.
It was for letting out a scream.
From which I learned: 'Be Not Afraid'.

For basketball, and also Gym,
My coach would train us like a nut!
And though we lost, most every time,
I learned to try, no matter what.

I learned to cater and to waitress
from a crew who taught me well.
In fact, so many new experiences
that I now can hardly tell.

My Bible teacher too,
taught me how 'I must forgive';
And by teaching me God's laws,
also taught me how to live.

To my teachers, one and all,
bold, soft-spoken, shy or tough,
Thanks for teaching me the knowledge
that being 'me' is good enough!